"The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution." Paul Cezanne

Best cities to eat smart, be fit, and live well

February 20, 2008

Cooking Light magazine, celebrating its 20th year of publication, embarked on a mission to rank the top major metropolitan areas that best fit their philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well.

Rankings were based on the following 15 criteria:

-Does the city have critically acclaimed food professionals? Source: James Beard-nominated restaurants
-How do its restaurants rate? Source: Zagat Survey
-Is organic dining a part of the local dining scene? Source: LocalHarvest.org
-How many chefs work in the city? Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
-Do they earn more than a living wage? Source: BLS
-How many farmers’ markets does the city have? Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmer’s Markets Directory; LocalHarvest.org
-Do residents make use of fresh produce? Source: CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
-Are gourmet ingredients available via national chains? Source: Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods locations
-Are residents in good health? Source: BRFSS
-What are the cities with the lowest rates of diabetes? Source: CDC and BRFSS
-What are the cities where residents maintain healthy weights? Source: CDC and BRFSS
-How important is exercise to the city’s residents? Source: CDC and BRFSS
-How much green space does the city provide, and is it well maintained? Source: The Trust for Public Land
-Is the city easy to explore on foot? Source: American Podiatric Association

Keep in mind only major metropolitan areas were considered. Still, it’s a great look at those places that provide the best resources people need to live healthful lives. Here they are: